History

ARGENTINA RED CROSS

Being Nicolás Avellaneda president of Argentina, in 1879, and once the first Geneva Convention was ratified, the Argentina Red Cross was founded. This action took place on the initiative of two physicians, Guillermo Rawson and Toribio Ayerza on June 10^th of 1880.

Our National Society, the Argentina Red Cross, achieves first-aid assistance, working on different natural or man-made disasters, like floods in Córdoba or Santa Fe provinces, the earth tremor in La Rioja province, the earthquake in San Juan province, the flu or the epidemic of 1918, among others.

We also cooperate with other National Societies which are in disaster or conflict situations, like we have done with Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Our National Society, Argentina Red Cross, is compounded of an administrative headquarters and 71 branches throughout the country.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES.

The task of the International Federation consists of inspiring, promoting and making possible the humanitarian actions which are developed by the National Societies, in order to improve the situation of the most vulnerable people. These tasks are always based on the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s principles.

Founded in 1919, the Federation manages and coordinates the Movement international assistance for victims of natural or technological disasters, or refugees, or those affected by health emergency. The Federation acts as official representative of Member Societies within the International environment. This international organization also promotes the cooperation among National Societies and contributes to strengthen their capacity of fulfilling their efficient programs of disaster preparedness and response, or social assistance and health.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF RED CROSS

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC); an impartial, neutral, and independent organization; has the exclusively humanitarian mission of protect war victims’ lives and dignity from the internal violence, and assist them as well.

During conflict situations, the ICRC manages and coordinates the first-aid international tasks of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC tries, likewise, to prevent the suffering through the promotion and strengthening of the universally humanitarian principles and law. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement developed from the ICRC, which was founded in 1863.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is concerned with human life and dignity protection worldwide, in order to promote a lasting peace. Millions of people assist victims of armed conflicts, natural disasters and other tragedies.

The movement is the synthesis of the world belief that human dignity and life deserve respect and protection, even in difficult situations like natural disasters or armed conflicts.

The Red Cross, axis of the International Movement, was born on May 8 of 1863, when Henry Dunant –a Switzerland salesman- was witness of the Solferino battle, where men lay dead or dying on the battlefield and the wounded were lacking medical attention. After that, he decided to create a Humanitarian Organization to assist any wounded in war unconditionally.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is compound of:

• The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

• 185 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.

Our National Society, Argentina Red Cross, is made up of an administrative headquarters and 71 branches along the country.

The ICRC, the National Societies and Federation are independent entities, having each of them legal status and no one of them has authority over any other.